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THE KING’S BUSINESS
9). If we do not know Him it is because Satan has blinded our-minds (2 Cor. 4:3, 4), and it is our own fault (Rom. 1:20, 22, 28). It was an apt stroke upon Paul’s part to begin with this well-known object in their own streets, and then to lead on to the great truths with which his soul was filled. vs. 24, 25. "(The) God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that He is (He, being) Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands: neither is worshipped with (He served by) men’s hands as though He needed anything, seeing He (add, Himself) giveth to all, life and breath, and all things." Paul’s aim was to carry with him the phil osophers in his audience and at the same time bring in new and higher thoughts about God than even they had, and step by step lead them face to face with God Himself-and make them feel their per sonal responsibility to Him. He would lead them to see that God was not merely a philosophical conception, but a person against whom they had sinned, and who was now calling “Repent.” So he starts with the great fundamental truth of God being the creator of the world and every individ ual thing in it, a truth that many of them already believed. Then he passed on to the Lordship of God, both in heaven and earth, then looking out from the Areopa gus upon the sea of temples that was vis ible from that point, and doubtless pointing at them with his hand, he goes on to the thought that no temples could contain Him. All this would find a response in the minds of his thoughtful hearers. Then he passed on to the thought that all the offerings with which their temples were full, were not needed by Him, as He Himself was the great Giver, giving to all the very life» they lived and the breath they breathed, and all things that they possessed. His words do not so much need exposition as pro found and prolonged meditation. vs. 26, 27. “And hath made (And He made) of one blood (omit, blood) all tuitions (every nation) of men, for to dwell
out either in the Authorized Version of this verse, nor in the English Revision, hut it does come out in the American Revised Version. He did not say, “I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious,” but, “in all things I perceive that ye are more religious,” or, “very religious.” Paul’s object was to win the favor and attention of his audience before he called upon them to repent. In this he sets a good example for modern preachers and personal work ers. People will listen patiently to the sharpest rebukes and sternest call to repent ance if we first win their favor by words of kindness and praise. v. 23. "For as I passed by (along), and beheld (observed) your devotions (the objects of your worship), I found (add, also) an altar with this inscription, TO AN (THE) UNKNOWN GOD. Whom (What) therefore ye ignorantly worship (worship in ignorance), him (this) declare 1 (set I forth) unto you." Paul went through the world with his eyes open, watching for something that would serve as a point of contact to preach Jesus unto men. Athens was full of statues, of objects of worship and of temples. Among them was this altar “to an unknown God,” and Paul had seized upon it at once as a start ing point from which to proceed to tell about the Lord Jesus. There is some thing very pathetic and touching in the inscription on this altar, “To an unknown God.” There are many today who are reaching out blindly and yet longingly toward a God of whose existence they have a vague apprehension, and of whom they have a feeling of deep need, but of whose name, character and person they have little clear knowledge. But there is no need that God be unknown, for He has fully revealed Himself (John 1:18; John 14:9; 2 Cor. 4:6), and has made perfectly clear how we may come to know Him (John 7:17; James 1:5-7; John 20:31). It is of the highest importance that we should know Him, for knowing Him is eternal life (John 17:3), and not to know Him brings eternal destruction (2 Thess. 7 :8,
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